Julia Fiona Roberts, born in Smyrna, Georgia, never dreamed she would become the most popular actress in America. As a child, due to her love of animals, Julia originally wanted to be a veterinarian, but later studied journalism. When her brother, Eric Roberts, achieved some success in Hollywood, Julia decided to try acting. Her first break came in 1988 when she appeared in two youth-oriented movies Mystic Pizza and Satisfaction. The movies introduced her to a new audience who instantly fell in love with this pretty woman. Julia's biggest success was in the signature movie Pretty Woman, for which Julia got an Oscar nomination, and also won the People's Choice award for Favorite Actress. Even though Julia would spend the next few years either starring in serious movies, or playing fantasy roles like Tinkerbell, the movie audiences would always love Julia best in romantic comedies. With My Best Friend's Wedding Julia gave the genre fresh life that had been lacking in Hollywood for some time. Offscreen, after a brief marriage, Julia has been romantically linked with several other actors. Julia has also become involved with UNICEF charities and has made visits to many different countries, including Haiti and India, in order to promote goodwill. Julia is one of the most popular and sought-after talents in Hollywood.

Lent her celebrity name to help raise money for research to develop a cure for Rett Syndrome (a disease which is potentially fatal and randomly strikes girls between the ages of 2 to 6 years).

Has a half-sister, Nancy Motes (b. 1976).

Turned down the female lead in Shakespeare in Love (1998).

Was engaged to Kiefer Sutherland for a brief period.

Younger sister of Lisa Roberts Gillan and Eric Roberts.

Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1990 and 1991.

Was considered for the role of Poison Ivy in Batman & Robin (1997).

Lived with Liam Neeson.

Born to Walter Grady Roberts, a vacuum cleaner salesman, and his wife Betty Lou Bredemus, a one-time church secretary and real estate agent.

Tops the list of the 200 "hottest" actors and actresses in the business in "James Ulmer's Hollywood Hot List: The Complete Guide to Star Power - 2000" book which is published in October 2000 (June 2000).

Was engaged to her Steel Magnolias (1989) co-star, Dylan McDermott.

Lies on her back to have her make-up applied before going onto a film set -- she insists it gives her a relaxed look.

Sister-in-law of Tony Gillan and Eliza Roberts.

After George Clooney and Brad Pitt found out that she was going to be joining them in Ocean's Eleven (2001), they sent her a card that read "We heard that you get 20 per film" and in it was a $20 bill; the joke was that she reportedly gets $20 million per film.

Named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001".

Splits her down time between her ranch in Taos, New Mexico and a home in New York City.

Was ranked 6th of the 100 Sexiest Women by FHM Taiwan (2001).

She never acted in a sequel until Ocean's Twelve (2004).

Moved from rank # 18 in 2002 to rank #16 in 2003 on Premiere's Annual Hollywood Power List. Also in 2003 Julia ranked #10 in Star TV's Top 10 Box Office Stars of the 1990s. In 2005, Premiere Magazine Stars in Our Constellation feature ranked Julia as the #7 Greatest Movie Star of All Time. in their Stars in Our Constellation feature (2005).

Measurements: 34B-23-34 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine).

Pakistani film director Rauf Khalid wanted her to work in his film, and even invited her to Pakistan to discuss the project, but she refused because of prior commitments.

Her Oscar-winning performance as Erin Brockovich-Ellis was ranked #31 on the American Film Institute's Heroes list of the 100 years of The Greatest Screen Heroes and Villains.

Canadian singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk wrote the song "Julia" about her after seeing her at a Los Angeles restaurant.

A 9000 year old female skeleton excavated in Bulgaria in November 2004, was called by the archaeologists "Julia Roberts" because of the perfect teeth it had. They said that woman would have had a perfect smile - just like the actress.

As Erin Brockovich-Ellis is right handed and Roberts is not, she had to learn to use her right hand for Erin Brockovich (2000).

Has played an art historian twice, once in Everyone Says I Love You (1996) and also in Mona Lisa Smile (2003).

She and her Ocean's Eleven (2001) / Ocean's Twelve (2004) co-stars, George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Elliott Gould, all have guest-starred on the TV show "Friends" (1994), though not in the same episodes.

"The Alchemist" is one of her favorite books.

As a gesture of thanks for giving her children music lessons, Coretta Scott King paid the hospital bills when the pregnant Mrs. Roberts' delivered her next child. That child ended up being Julia.

Was named of the 100 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2006.

Refused to star in The Proposal (2009/I) unless Disney offered her a higher salary; eventually, Disney hired 'Sandra Bullock' for even less money than it had offered Roberts, and the film became one of the highest-grossing romantic comedies ever.

Her father, Walter Roberts, was brought up in Coatbridge, Scotland.

Returned to work nine months after giving birth to her son Henry in order to begin filming Duplicity (2009).

Lives in Malibu, California, New York City, New York and Taos, New Mexico.